Tag Archives: warren county

Hector’s Run Falls is located in the Allegheny National Forest, between Route 6 in Ludlow and Route 948 in Barnes. The best access is via Route 6.WARNING: There are steep cliffs at the falls, and cell phone service drops off about half-way into the hike. Wear footwear with good tread, and be careful when hiking near the edge.

From Sheffield, take Route 6 to Ludlow.
Turn right onto South Hillside Drive, just as you come into Ludlow.
Turn left onto Water Street.
Turn right onto Scenic Drive.
After about a mile, you will turn right onto Forestry Road 258.
In 2.1 miles, you will reach Forestry Road 258H, on your left, which is gated off. There is a small parking area beside the gate.

This is where your hike begins. Hector’s Run Falls are approximately 1 mile from the gate.
Follow 258H to the fork in the road and take the left fork (downhill.) You will come to a small meadow, with a light blue National Fuel well-head. The trail turns to the right, as you’re facing the well-head.
Continue to follow the trail for another 200 yards, or so, and you will arrive at the top of the falls.

Please note that this was our first trip to the falls, and we did not take the left fork of the road, and ended up coming through the forest, following the sound of the water. So, the video begins as we arrive at the side of the falls. The falls usually only have water running over them after a recent rain. Be sure to plan your hike accordingly.

(HARRISBURG) – State grant assistance for home heating costs is still available to qualifying Pennsylvania residents through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), according to Senator Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson).

Scarnati explained that LIHEAP is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and provides assistance with heating expenses in the form of a cash grant, sent directly to the utility company, or a crisis grant for households in immediate danger of being without heat.

“In the winter months the burden of an added expense for heating can be especially heavy on low-income families and those individuals on fixed incomes,” Scarnati said. “As cold temperatures and inclement weather begin to impact our region I want to remind residents that there is help for those who may need assistance with heating costs.”

Eligibility for grants begins, for a household of one, with a maximum income limit of $17,505 and increases by $6,090 per additional household resident. Grant amounts are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region.

Applications for the 2014-2015 LIHEAP program will be accepted through April 3, 2015. Applications are available by contacting Senator Scarnati’s offices in Brockway (814-265-2030), Kane (814-837-1026) or Wellsboro (570-724-5231).

Local residents can also apply for LIHEAP grants online at the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website, www.compass.state.pa.us. For more information please contact the LIHEAP hotline at 1-866-857-7095.

Warren County got out the vote during the final two weeks of the PA Organzation for Rivers and Watersheds’ (POWR) 2015 River of Year contest! Trailing by 10% of the total vote just over 2 weeks ago, a concerted effort by the Conewango Creek Watershed Association (CCWA), numerous local businesses, and individuals brought the Conewango Creek into the lead and home for the win, as voting closed this evening. Thank you to all who voted! Special thanks to Tom Osborne of Conewango Kayak Canoe Rentals and the Conewango Creek Watershed Association for their tireless work cleaning up and promoting the Conewango Creek.

As of this morning, 9,700 people had voted for their choice of River of the Year.Final tallies are:
Conewango Creek – 42%
Loyalhanna Creek – 30%
Lackawanna River – 15%
Neshaminy Creek – 9%
Ohio River – 5%

For the past twenty years, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has annually recognized one river as the River of the Year. This recognition is done to raise awareness of the important recreational, ecological, and historical resources associated with the state’s rivers and streams.

The River of the Year is celebrated throughout the year. Events have included paddling trips, a speaker series, clean up days, photography contests, and more. Partnerships of community groups organize the events including a Sojourn paddling trip. In addition, POWR coordinates the production and distribution of a free poster celebrating the river.

The Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers, or POWR, administers the River of the Year program. Local organizations submit nominations. POWR also helps organize and support local watershed associations, as well as the groups who lead a dozen sojourns on rivers around the state each year.

According to the legislators, the newly created community college is being established with the goal of offering two-year associate degrees, as well as training and certificate programs to underserved areas of the Commonwealth. Curriculum of the college will be determined by the Board of Trustees, based upon the future workforce needs of the designated region of Cameron, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, McKean, Potter, Venango and Warren counties.

“I am very excited that groundwork for launching the Rural Regional Community College is now in place,” Senator Scarnati stated. “This will be the first community college to offer greatly needed higher educational opportunities to northwestern Pennsylvania. Thanks to input by education, business and community leaders, we have been able to establish a solid foundation for helping students have access to quality, affordable education near their hometowns.”

“This will certainly expand the educational options for students in our region,” Senator Robbins said. “Education is the key to success, and a two-year college program is an excellent option for young people who are looking at job opportunities in many career fields. The truth is it’s also a cost-effective way for students to complete their basic studies at a smaller college before finishing their degree at a larger university.”

“I’m thrilled with the rapid progress on the Rural Regional Community College and I’m grateful for Senator Scarnati’s leadership in making this concept a reality,” Senator Hutchinson said. “The positive effects this college will have on our region cannot be understated – there is an immediate need for quality career and technology education in many rural areas of the Commonwealth. The Rural Regional Community College will help residents of our area get the training and education they need to continue working and living right here in our community.”

Senator Scarnati explained that earlier this year, language from his Senate Bill 1000 to establish the rural regional community college initiative was included in the Fiscal Code (Act 126 of 2014). Senate Bill 1000 was a bi-partisan initiative, based largely on recommendations by a Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) study completed in December 2011.

On August 1st, the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) appointed the Educational Consortium of Upper Allegheny (ECUA) as the non-profit entity to assist with designating the community college region to be served, as well as advising PDE on the appointment of members of the Board of Trustees. Dr. Dick McDowell, Chairman of the ECUA Board of Trustees stressed the importance of the new community college.

“Providing people with access, affordability and articulation that a community college can offer will be a tremendous asset to rural Pennsylvania,” Dr. McDowell said. “We are pleased to work with the Pennsylvania Department of Education to provide advice to help develop a rural higher education system that offers greater accessibility for students at affordable rates.”

Earlier this month, the following 15 individuals were named to serve on the Board of Trustees by PDE Secretary Carolyn Dumaresq.

– Ms. Mary Bula, Collective Impact at United Way of Erie County

– Ms. Nancy Decker, Laurel Technical Institute

– Mrs. Amanda Hetrick, Forest Area School District

– Mr. Robert Kaemmerer, United Refining Company

– Mr. Hank LeMeur, Superior Tire and Rubber Company

– Mrs. Kate Lomax-Brock, Elk Cameron Community Education Council

– Mr. Greg Mahon, Office of the Senate President Pro Tempore

– Dr. Richard McDowell, President Emeritus University of Pittsburgh at Bradford

– Mr. Douglas Morley, Potter County Commissioner

– Mr. Ed Pitchford, Cole Memorial Hospital

– Mr. Louis Radkowski, City of Saint Marys

– Mrs. Susan Snelick, North Central Workforce Investment Board

– Dr. Karen Whitney, Clarion University

– Mr. Dennis Wilke, Precision Manufacturing Institute

– The Honorable Mary Jo White, Former State Senator

Term length of the Board members will be determined at the first Board of Trustees meeting scheduled for December 2, 2014. The meeting will be open to members of the public and the location of the meeting will be determined by PDE in the coming days.

The Senators also recognized the contributions of members of the House of Representatives who worked on the measure, especially Representative Martin Causer who introduced a companion bill to SB 1000, which also sought to establish a rural community college program.

“Thanks to the efforts and input of numerous educational, business, community and government leaders, we are now helping to provide students with more tools they can use to access good, family-sustaining jobs. We look forward to witnessing the positive impacts of the college in the years to come.”

The Conewango Creek, along with the Lackawanna River, Loyalhanna Creek, Neshaminy Creek, and the Ohio River are finalists for Pennsylvania’s River of the Year for 2015. Currently, Loyalhanna Creek is in the lead with 39% of the vote. Voting ends on December 15, 2014

For the past twenty years, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has annually recognized one river as the River of the Year. This recognition is done to raise awareness of the important recreational, ecological, and historical resources associated with the state’s rivers and streams.

The River of the Year is celebrated throughout the year. Events have included paddling trips, a speaker series, clean up days, photography contests, and more. Partnerships of community groups organize the events including a Sojourn paddling trip. In addition, POWR coordinates the production and distribution of a free poster celebrating the river.

The Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers, or POWR, administers the River of the Year program. Local organizations submit nominations. POWR also helps organize and support local watershed associations, as well as the groups who lead a dozen sojourns on rivers around the state each year.

– Chapman State Park will again allow Early Canada goose hunting beginning Tuesday, September 2nd. The statewide season, designed to reduce local nuisance geese populations, runs through Thursday, Sept. 25.

Non-migratory Canada goose populations have increased drastically in recent years, causing crop damage and nuisance problems in residential neighborhoods. Park visitors often complain about goose excrement on state park beaches and other facilities, and water quality at some state parks has been adversely affected.

Resident Canada geese have been among the suspected cause of high fecal coliform counts at some Pennsylvania state park beaches, forcing swimming restrictions during peak use periods.

Many state parks have taken measures, including anti-goose fencing and/or the use of loud noisemakers, in attempt to deter the waterfowl or scare them away.

All Game Commission rules and regulations governing the early Canada goose season will apply at state parks. Park information can be found at: www.dcnr.state.pa.us

Persons with disabilities wanting to hunt geese in the early season should contact the park office for further information.

This exhibition features four large-scale works each by many of the nation’s foremost nature photographers:
Craig Blacklock, Clyde Butcher, Robert Clements, Kevin Ebi, Robbie George, Stephen Gorman, Robert Glenn Ketchum, Scot Miller, David Muench, Marc Muench, and Mark Muse.

This show has special historical meaning for the region, because the Wilderness Act of 1964 was authored by Tionesta native Howard Zahniser.

Included in this show are the winners of the Wilderness Photo Contest, Piper VanOrd, Mark Hulings, and Judy Cole Blank.

This special exhibition was conceived and produced in cooperation with Friends of Allegheny Wilderness in Warren, and has been generously supported by Community Foundation of Warren County, DeFrees Family Memorial Fund, Northwest Savings Bank and Crary Gallery member-supporters and volunteers. Thank you!
Catalogs for this show are available.

Come and join us August 22nd, 23rd and 24th for the 2014 Kinzua Heritage Arts & Music Festival, this is our 9th year of striving to keep the past alive.

The Kinzua Heritage Festival is three days of history and fun tucked into a beautiful hillside on Fox Hill Road in Russell, PA.

At the main stage, you can relax under a large tent and listen to sounds of Native American, traditional country, folk, and bluegrass music.

Be sure to stop at the birch beer booth and enjoy a glass.
Watch and join the dancers as they perform traditional dances throughout the day.

Bid on items at the auctions Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm help raise money for local charity.

Native American and traditional artisans display their crafts and skills throughout the grounds. Artisans at the festival have showcased everything from glass blowing to metalwork, leather crafts to hand spun yarns, candle dipping to longbow making.

Follow the paths through the woods and visit with the craft people and demonstrators on your way to the hand constructed longhouse, but watch out for the Civil War reenactors roaming the woods.

At the rear stage tucked into the trees, you can relax while listen to storytelling or acoustic music, watching the children play games, sit with friends and enjoy the forest.

Saturday children at the festival will enjoy the games and some hands on craft projects that they can make and take home.

To check the status of an Antlerless Deer License Application:Go to www.pa.wildlifelicense.com. Click on the “Purchase Fishing and/or Hunting License Permit and or Application / Replace License and or Permit” option, which includes the ability to “Check on the status of an Antlerless Deer or Elk Application,” scroll down and click on the “Start Here” button at the bottom of the page. At this page, choose one of the identification options below to check your records, fill in the necessary information and click on the “Continue” button. Click on the appropriate residency status, which will display your current personal information. At the bottom of the page, choose the “Check on the status of any Lottery Application” button, and then hit “Continue.”

I haven’t received my license yet:County treasurers have until September 8, 2014 to mail back regular and first round unsold antlerless deer licenses, and until September 22, 2014 to mail out second round of unsold antlerless deer licenses.

Who to contact with questions about your application or license:Please contact the County Treasurer that processed your license with specific inquiries about your application or Antlerless Deer License.

Unsold licenses in 2B, 5C and 5D:This can be done by mail starting Monday, August 4, 2014 until allocations in those three WMUs are exhausted. Over-the-counter sales in these three units begin Monday, August 25, 2014.

Replacement of lost antlerless license:Visit any County Treasurer’s office to be issued a replacement license. Cost of replacement is $6.70

Special thanks to my co-host Sen. Scott Hutchinson; our expert presenters Warren County District Attorney Rob Greene, Warren County Sheriff Ken Klakamp, Forest County Sheriff Bob Wolfgang and Forest County District Attorney Elizabeth Ziegler; our generous hosts at the Warren Holiday Inn; and, especially, the more than 250 local firearm owners who filled last Saturday’s Concealed Carry Seminar to full capacity.

Due to the tremendous turnout, I am in the process of planning another one of these no-cost seminars, for later this fall, to help even more law-abiding firearm owners to expand their knowledge about Pennsylvania’s concealed carry laws, the Castle Doctrine and other valuable information regarding your Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

McNickle, McConnor, Stewart: Though they are friends, these are three very distinct artists, each with a distinct way of approaching his work, with little crossover even in subject matter. McNickle’s canvases are light-filled and multi-hued, depicting natural, often verdant landscapes. McConnor’s panels are deceptively simple arrangements of personal objects imbued with colors at once muted and brilliant. Stewart’s grand (and sometimes small) works beguile the viewer in a narrative of intricate layers of meanings and subtle color.

Different as could be in many ways.

Rather than subject or style, it is their commitment to their lives in art that brings their work together at the Crary. Outside the context of this show, that is true too. Because of their simultaneous remoteness from art centers and relative proximity to each other, their paths cross enough to make a nicely worn route between their studios. A thick strand of concern for the importance of art, and a mutual respect for each other’s art, binds them together outside this show as well.

Individually, they are all award-winning, educated painters whose works are sold and shown well outside the region, as their resumes attest. We are pleased to present their paintings here at the Crary.